Tree-prop bracket



(No Model.)

- B.=E. DOUGLA$.

TREE PROP BRACKET.

Patented July 23, 1895-. I

v UNITED STATES:

.FPATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE. E. DOUGLAS,- oF VRI'YERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

T-REE-PROP BRACKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,298, dated July 23,1895. Q

Application filed March 30, 1895.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, BRUCE E. DOUGLAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Riv erside, in the county of Riverside and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Tree-Prop Bracket, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for supporting theoverburdened limbs of trees to prevent their being broken by the weightof the fruit upon them or by storms or other causes.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of treeprops andto provide a supporting-bracket which shallbe simple and inexpensive in con- I V struction, capableof being quicklyand easily adjusted in height to suit any limb, which shallautomatically grasp the prop or pole at any point, and which shall bethoroughly efficient and durable in practice. I v

To this end the invention consists in making a bracket from awire blankand bending the same at its center in such manner as to form an openloop for striding or embracing the pole or prop; also, to form adjacentthereto a pocket or hook adapted to underlie and uphold the limb of atree, and also to form one or more prongs or tines independently of saidloop and pocket or hoop adapted to penetrate and engage the pole or propso as to hold said bracket in position to prevent its downward movement.I

It further consists in certain features and details of construction andarrangement hereinatter fully described, illustrated in the drawings,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing themanner in which my improved bracket is applied in practical use. Fig. 2is an enlarged side elevation of the same shown applied to a pole orprop. Fig. 3 is a'plan view of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

The improved bracket which I will now proceed to describe is made from awire blank of any desired gage for imparting the requisite strength'tothe completed'bracket. This blank is bent'at its central portion 1 toform a three-sided open loop, as indicated at 1 2 3,

Serial No. 543,880. (No model.) i

which is adapted to stride or embrace a pole or prop 4, as shown. Theterminals of the blank are each given a corresponding downward bend at5, and a short distance below said bends the terminals are again curvedor bent at 6 and inclined upwardly and outwardly to forma-pendent-pocket or hook,

which is adapted to underlie and uphold the limb of a tree. At the outerend of the pocket or hook portion the terminals are given a backwardbend upon themselves, as indicated at 7, and from this point saidterminals converge toward their extremities, which lie in closeproximity to each other and are pointed, as shown at 8. In this manner apair of converging and pointed prongs or tines are provided, which areadapted to penetrate and engage the prop 4 at any point for preventingthe downward movement of the brackets er se.

The bracket above described may be applied to a pole or prop square,rectangular, or round in cross-section and may be adjusted to any heightthereon for receiving and .upholding the limb of a tree. The open loopportion partially surrounds and embraces the pole or prop for holdingthe bracket in place thereon, and thedownwardly-in clined pointed prongsor tines penetrate the fiber of the pole or prop and prevent thedownward movement pense, and that they possess all the advan-' tages ofother devices of a similar nature.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, isv 1.A tree prop bracket made froma-wire blank bent at its central portion to form an open link forstriding or embracing a pole or prop, a pocket or hook portion adaptedto underlie and uphold the limb of a tree, and one or more pointedprongs or tines formed by the terminals of said blank having theirpointed extremities arranged beneath the pocket or hook portion andadapted to penetrate and engage said pole or prop, substantially asspecified.

2. A tree prop bracket made from a single piece of wire bent to form anopen loop at the center of its length for engaging a pole or prop, withits ends bent to form prongs or tines for engaging said pole or prop,and the hook for supporting the limb of a tree formed between said openloop and the prongs or tines, substantially as described.

3. A tree prop bracket made from a Wire I5 blank bent at its centralportion to form an open loop for striding or embracing the pole or prop,a pair of converging prongs or tines formed by the terminals of saidblank for penetrating'and engaging said pole or prop, and anintermediate pocket or hook formed by said terminals and located betweensaid open loop and the i'prongs or tines, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' BRUCE E. DOUGLAS.

Witnesses:

SLAYTON WALKER, ANDREW H. MOHURON.

